Worcester Porcelain Openwork Pine Cone Pattern Fruit Baskets - Set of 2

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Georgian Table Elegance: A Pair of Pine Cone Pierced Baskets

This impressive pair of First Period Worcester Porcelain Openwork Fruit … Read more Georgian Table Elegance: A Pair of Pine Cone Pierced Baskets

This impressive pair of First Period Worcester Porcelain Openwork Fruit Baskets, dating to circa 1770-75, showcases the factory's mastery of both molded form and printed decoration. This pair is particularly large with each basket measuring 10 1/2 inches in diameter and 2 3/4 inches high (26.83cm x 6.99cm).

The baskets are distinguished by their elaborate reticulation (pierced openwork). The sides feature a complex design of overlapping rings, while the border is cut with large oval and urn-shaped cutouts, creating a lacy, delicate effect. This intricate openwork is further enhanced by hand-painted underglaze blue details: blue florets mark each intersection on the exterior, and a dense blue cell band (referenced by The Gardiner Museum as "delft style 76") outlines the rim.

The central well of each basket is decorated with the crisp, printed underglaze blue Pine Cone Pattern. This specific pattern, with its stylized floral and foliate motifs, was one of Worcester's popular transfer-printed designs, demonstrating their innovative use of this new ceramic technology.

Marks: One of the baskets bears a shaped blue crescent mark, a key identifier for Worcester's First Period production.

Historical Context: Piercing and Printing at Worcester

The era spanning 1770-1775 was a period of high refinement for the Worcester Porcelain Factory under the management of the Dr. Wall Period.

The Form:
Openwork or reticulated baskets, often called 'fruit baskets' or 'bread baskets,' were essential pieces of formal Georgian table service. Their form was directly inspired by contemporary European prototypes, specifically Meissen and Chelsea porcelain, as noted in the reference. The pierced sides were not only decorative but also functional, allowing air to circulate, keeping fruit cool, or letting water drain from washed produce. Achieving such large, deep, and precisely cut reticulation in soft-paste porcelain was a significant technical challenge and a mark of the factory's superior craftsmanship.

The Decoration:
The use of underglaze blue transfer-printing was a commercial triumph for Worcester, pioneered by the factory's partner, Richard Holdship. This technique allowed for the rapid, consistent, and cost-effective application of intricate patterns, making luxury porcelain accessible to a broader, affluent market. The Pine Cone Pattern is a classic example of these early printed designs, which were often stylized adaptations of Chinese export patterns.

These baskets represent the confluence of high-style European ceramic forms (reticulation) and advanced English manufacturing technology (transfer-printing), solidifying Worcester's reputation as a leading manufacturer of elegant and durable porcelain.

Reference
The Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada, Object # G99.3.39. This object is cited as a slightly smaller example of this same "Large round twig fruit basket" shape, confirming the form's attribution to First Period Worcester and its acknowledged influence from Meissen or Chelsea prototypes.

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